By Asmau Ahmad
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said Lagos, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), account for 70 percent of Coronavirus infections in the country.
Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha made this known during a national briefing in Abuja.
He said that two major indicators highlight the current increase in cases and transmission across the country.
“Over the past four briefings, the PTF has been raising the alert flag on the rising number of infections in the country and the possibility of a second wave arriving at our shores.
“Recent epidemiology records confirm to the PTF that Nigeria is now facing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide which is similar to the second wave of infections occurring in other countries across the world.
“Particularly, Lagos, Kaduna and the FCT have emerged as the new epicentres during this period, with over 70 per cent of all confirmed cases,” he said.
The SGF said that, though the country’s testing numbers were fast approaching the peak recorded in July 2020, the number of cases being reported were disproportionately higher.
“For example, in the FCT despite recording an increase of 85 per center in tests conducted over the last week, the number of confirmed cases increased by 285 percent during the same period.
“These trends point to a higher Test Positivity Rate (TPR) – the number of positive cases detected as a proportion of all tests. The TPR was below five per cent through September and October and we recorded a low point of three per cent nationally in late October.
“However, recent trends in cases have seen this number increase to 10 per cent in the second week of December,” he said.
The SGF said that the high numbers were further reflected in the increase of admissions to COVID-19 treatment centres and fatalities, particularly in the three epicentre states.
He added that the result of the analysis carried out by the PTF further indicate that the current pattern of spread and the surge is likely to be driven by lack of compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions particularly the disregard for mask use in public, large gatherings as a result of events linked to the yuletide season and recent civil demonstrations.
